Delaware Valley leads way in texting law violators

The no-texting law in Pennsylvania has been in effect since March 8, and according to numbers listed by AAA Mid-Atlantic, the region that has had the most drivers ticketed for texting while driving is . . . the five-county Philadelphia region.

In the first six months of the law, the Philadelphia area had 355 of the state's 796 citations, meaning this area had about 45 percent of those tickets.

The five-county region makes up about one third of Pennsylvania's population. The Pittsburgh area had 111 tickets for texting in the first six months.

The report also broke down the citations down by county with the leader being Philadelphia with 111.

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Delaware County was fifth on the list with 52 texting tickets in the first six months.

The biggest month for the tickets in Delaware County was 12 in May. The most of any month in the state was 37 in Philadelphia for the first month the law was in effect. Philadelphia tickets had decreased each month from 37 down to 15 by August.

And while that seems like a bit of good news, that doesn't necessarily change what drivers fear the most.

The AAA survey found that 40 percent of motorists fear getting in an accident caused by a distracted driver.

That compares to 20 percent being worried about getting in an accident with a drunk driver.

According to federal research, the average driver texting or reading a text while driving takes his or her eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, that's like driving the length of a football field without looking up at the road.

Those numbers and the threat of getting a ticket aren't enough to make some resist the temptation. The AAA survey found that 94 percent of drivers have considered texting while driving and 35 percent admitted to reading a text or email while driving in the past 30 days.

When you're driving and your phone signals that you've received a new email or text, sure, it's tempting to look. And while the $50 ticket for getting caught checking those might not deter you, and you might even be willing to risk your own safety to check them, just remember your decisions, good or bad, always affect others.

TWENTY PERCENTER AWARD

Each week we take a look at a situation where a driver, or sometimes rider, had about 20 percent of his or her attention on the road and the rest somewhere else. These are real occurrences witnessed by me while driving on the wonderful and varied roads in Delaware County. And, they will be an example of what not to do while driving or riding.

And definitely do not do this. It was a dangerous situation in many ways.

I was on MacDade Boulevard heading toward the Blue Route at about 5:15 p.m. one day last week. That's when I saw a minivan wanting to make a left on to Morris Avenue. Normally not a problem, but there can be a bit of wait at this time of day as traffic is heavy.

So, to try and get traffic to stop, this driver started to make the lefthand turn and stopped, sticking about one-fourth of its left bumper into the adjacent lane. Instead of stopping, traffic of course, merged into the far right lane so it wouldn't have to stop.

Sticking a bumper into oncoming traffic is dangerous for several reasons. First, of course, is that someone in the oncoming lane might think they can squeeze through when they can't, which could cause an accident in at least three of the four lanes on the road.

Also, if you're making a left turn and have the wheels already turned left before the way is clear, if you are hit in the rear by another car you will be pushed into oncoming traffic.

This driver was already in one lane of the oncoming traffic, so nothing to lose I guess.

It's hard to say whether that driver was assuming others would stop, or trying to bully them into stopping. Either way, it was a dangerous move with the potential to ruin somebody's holiday cheer before it even started.

TRAFFIC DELAYS

I-95 - There will be southbound lane closures between Route 420 and Stewart Avenue from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday-Friday for sound wall installation.

MacDade Boulevard -- It is closed between PA 320 and Bullens Lane until Dec. 15 for bridge reconstruction.

Girard Point Bridge - One northbound and southbound lane will be closed beginning from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Then one southbound lane will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for expansion joint replacement.

Walt Whitman Bridge -- The Fifth Phase of the long-term construction project is underway meaning four lanes will be open into Philadelphia for the morning rush and three out of Philadelphia for the afternoon rush.

Platt Bridge -- The bridge is reduced to one lane in each direction for construction during all hours.

Chester -- Ninth Street will be closed between Penn and Sproul Streets for bridge replacement until Thursday.

Chester - West Ninth Street will be closed between Harwick and Booth Streets between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for utility installation.

Chester Tewnship -- Concord Road will have possible lane restrictions between Bridgewater Road and Commerce Drive between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. each weekday until May due to bridge replacement.

Lower Chichester - There will be lane restrictions on Chichester Avenue between Myrtle Drive and Jones Drive between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday for utility installation.

Middletown -- Glen Riddle Road will be closed and detoured between PA 452 and PA 352 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each weekday until January for utility installation.

Newtown -- St. David's Road is closed between Darby Paoli Road and Newtown Road until Dec. 7 for bridge rehabilitation.

Radnor -- Radnor Chester Road will be closed and detoured between Lancaster Avenue and Conestoga Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday until Dec. 21 for utility installation.

Ridley Tewnship -- PA 291 is down to one lane for bridge construction over Crum Creek just south of Stewart Avenue until June of 2013. The bridge on PA 291 over Darby Creek is restricted to one westbound lane and detours are posted. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2013.

Springfield - Thomson Avenue will have lane closures between Powell Road and Sproul Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday starting Thursday until Dec. 31 for water main installation.

Upper Chichester - There will be lane restrictions on US 322 between Cherry Tree Road and Willers Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday beginning until April 15 for widening.

Upper Darby --There will be lane restrictions on Bishop Avenue between Baltimore Pike and Providence Road between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each weekday until Dec. 28 for utility installation.

And remember when you're driving, life's a journey, not a race.

Travelogue runs every Sunday. Messages and email with phone numbers will be considered. Email Jeff Wolfe at jwolfe@delcotimes.com.